150 million camera phones worldwide in 2004

March 17, 2004

A new study from InfoTrends Research Group projects that worldwide unit sales of camera phones will reach nearly 150 million in 2004, or just over a quarter of all mobile phone sales. Camera phone sales are expected to experience a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 55% to reach 656 million units in 2008. Rapid adoption of camera phones worldwide will generate an additional 29 billion digital images captured this year.

"Growth in the camera phone market creates new opportunities for many industry players, including handset vendors, wireless carriers, and digital photofinishers," says Jill Aldort, Senior Research Analyst of Internet Imaging Trends at InfoTrends Research Group. "More consumers are purchasing camera phones and experimenting with taking, sending, and even printing photos. Camera phones have boosted slowing worldwide mobile phone sales and photo messaging has contributed to an increase in data sent over the wireless networks. In turn, these circulating digital images have already added to the number of digital prints made."

Japan was the leading region for camera phone sales in 2003, with a market share of more than 50%. There will be a major shift in shipments this year as camera phone adoption increases in other areas of the world. China is already the largest mobile phone market worldwide, and its developing camera phone market will boost the Rest of World region to become the leading region for camera phone unit sales by a slight majority in 2004. By 2008, the Rest of World region is expected to have a 56% share of worldwide camera phone shipments.

InfoTrends' new report entitled "2004 Worldwide Camera Phone and Photo Messaging Forecast" provides market forecasts for North America, Europe, Japan, and the Rest of the World. The camera phone market is sized by unit shipment, resolution, revenue, and average selling price projections through 2008. The forecast for photo messaging includes projections for the number of users, photo messages sent, revenue, and photos captured and printed. The report includes analysis of ongoing market issues and trends, and profiles key wireless carriers and handset manufacturers in each region including NTT DoCoMo, SprintPCS, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Nokia, Panasonic, and Sony Ericsson. The report is available immediately in electronic format.